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From Booklist Imagine an African American's voting rights withheld until he or she proved 100 percent African American descent, or a woman having to sue her employer to get a women's restroom in the workplace. Outrageous as those scenarios seem, their like is commonplace in the lives of the disabled, Johnson says, because of widespread misinterpretation and misapplication of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). She points out numerous flaws in the law, beginning with its title (she prefers that of the British analog, the Disability Discrimination Act) and including the fact that it is enforceable only via lawsuit, putting rights seekers in an adversarial position, and that it contains an escape clause permitting noncompliance if accessibility causes a business "undue hardship." The disabled person's difficulties aren't, however, confined to the law, and the roots of conflict over disability rights reach deep into personal prejudices and national values. Bit-by-bit Johnson deconstructs arguments against disability rights from the likes of Clint Eastwood as well as more ordinary folk, and she constructs powerful reasons why we all benefit from inclusion. Donna Chavez Copyright (c) American Library Association. All rights reserved

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I took one star off out of personal distaste for including celebrity names in the headline. That was probably a publisher's decision, and definitely not something that really detracts from the book.I recommend it to anyone who wants to know about a fight in which the only voices you really hear from are those who are against including the disabled, and find lots of legal and "reasonable-sounding" ways to segregate and separate and discriminate against them.The part I liked best contemplated how life would be better for everyone if our society designed and built, as well as hired and educated, to accommodate a wide range of human ability instead of a narrow one. This vision is worth the book.

Mary Johnson, long time editor and co-founder of the Ragged Edge, has been on the forefront of the struggle for disability rights in the United States for over 20 years. Highly respeced and a gifted editor and writer, Johnson has used her considerable skills to hone a book that is sure to be widely read and discussed. Her book will appeal to a wide cross section of people including disabled people seeking to understand their place in society, academics, lawyers, government officials, and health care professionals to mention but a few groups that could benefit greatly from reading Make Them Go Away.In my estimation, Johnson's book is the most important contribution that has been made in the burgeoning field of disability studies in the last decade. In part this is because she provides not only a history of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) but explains in detail exactly how the court has eviserated the law. Broken into two parts, the first half the case against disabilty rights and the second the case for disability rights, Johnson uses popular and controversial figures such as Clint Eastwood and Christopher Reeve to make her point that there is a long standing bias against the disabled in American society. In fact, she ably demonstrates the legal bias against the disabled begins before they even enter the courthouse. Sadly, Johnson also demonstrates the ADA is widely misunderstood by the general public and more often than not simply not considered to be a part of the civil rights movement. This is sad because many thought the law would lead to the end of the most base forms of discrimation disabled people face on a daily basis. Alienation and the lack of access and the concommitant isolation and disenfranchisement that comes with it has not been eliminated by the ADA. While the social reality is not positive, Johnson's book is one of the opening salvos in what looks to be a very long battle for disabled people's civil rights. As such, Make Them Go Away should be considered must reading for disability rights activists, lobbyists, lawyers and all those on the front lines of the battle for disability rights. Johnson's book should also be required reading in classes in disabiltity along with other classic works by Erving Goffman and Robert Murphy. In short, buy the book, read it carefully, and share it with all those who not only have an interest in disabilty rights but the rights that all Americans are supposed to share.

An on going problem for the disbility rights movement has been its failure to connect with other minority groups. The critical reviewer from Tulsa, OK highlights this with his prejudiced and poorly chosen words. I am glad the reviewer is proud to be an African American and embraces his civil rights. However, comments such as "over coming a handicap is honorable" is offensive. Indeed, it reminds me of a time when African American leaders were considered "a credit to their race". Rather than lashing out at disabled people, perhaps the reviewer from Tulsa might want to consider that in the civil rights struggle to ride on the front of the bus for example black Americans had a huge advantage--they could actually get on the bus. The reviewer may also want to consider that the main problem disabled people encounter is not their disability or the physical access to buildings but rather social prejudice. Moreover, many disabled people are proud of who they are--and that includes whatever disability they have.

I love "Make Them Go Away". It is very informational. It has both sides of the issue and you can make your own mind up on what you believe. It also gives you some history on the disability rights movement. It makes me want to take some action in my own community as well.